The government, through the Ministry of Health, is planning to put in place innovative mechanisms to mobilise domestic resources for sustainable health financing towards universal health coverage.
This is aimed at raising the overall profile, awareness, and influence of a national high-level health financing dialogue that is set to begin on June 26 and end on June 28.
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha said that this dialogue is a follow-up of the Abuja declaration dubbed “Investing in Health” made during the sideline meeting of the 32nd ordinary assembly of Heads of States and Governments of the African Union that was held on February 2, 2019 during the Africa Leadership Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“The African Leadership Meeting (ALM): Investing in Health is supported by financial pillars, which will form the basis of discussion and dialogue next week (26–28 June),” stated Nakhumicha.
She said that as part of ALM implementation, the AU has given the mandate to regional economic communities to hold the national health dialogue.
While briefing the press at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi on Tuesday, Ms. Nakhumicha confirmed that the Ministry of Health has largely benefited from the recently passed finance bill, which she envisaged will provide better health service delivery across the country.
She also warned individuals who misuse and misappropriate funds to suit their own self-interest and are not of benefit to the public.
“We cannot have people raising funds to support the health sector while others are misusing it. We will come for such individuals who are misusing those funds,” said Ms. Nakhumicha.
Council of Governors (CoG) Health Committee chairperson Muthomi Njuki in a speech read on his behalf by CoG CEO Mary Mwiti said that the dialogue is envisaged to bring to the fore achievements and lessons learnt in health financing space as an important component in optimizing financial investment in health and to catalyze resource mobilization.
“Today, Kenya is still investing less than 15% in health, and donor funding is decreasing. This is happening despite most of the county governments spending more than 30% of their annual budget on health despite having 14 devolved functions,” said Njuki while requesting the government to increase investment in health from 11% to 15% in line with the Abuja Declaration (2001).
In her remarks, Ag Director of Health Financing at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Wangia Elizabeth, said that they will ensure every Kenyan benefits from primary health coverage.
On the other hand, East Africa Community (EAC) Regional Facilitator Regina Ombam remarked that they are reorienting ways to improve Kenya’s health sector in order to prioritize health programs that are going to be significant to the people of Kenya.
“As EAC, we are piloting this program in three countries to bring in states, donors, and finance development partners for financing health,” Ombam remarked.
By Ali Sheikh Mohamed
